Safflower seeds or false saffron

Safflower Seed or False Saffron (Carthamus tinctorius) 50 seeds

Brief description: Safflower is a pretty branched annual that can reach 1 m in height. Hairless (without hairs), sheathing, alternate and lanceolate leaves of a dark green. Its flowers in orange-yellow capitula appear between April and July.

Propagation: In cold regions, safflower seeds are sown in a warm place, one month before the last frost. Otherwise, the seeds are sown in place, after frost is no longer a risk. Allow 3-4 months between sowing and harvesting the flowers.

Culture: Leave 20 cm between each plant. Safflower thrives in sunny soil, it even tolerates a little salt. It is therefore a valuable ornamental plant on the coast.
The plant does not tolerate humidity well, it is not uncommon for the seeds to start to germinate on the stalk.

Dyeing use: With safflower flowers (pistils), we can obtain vegetable dyes with yellow, orange and red shades for fabrics.

Food use: The seeds (shiny white) can provide a food oil, similar to sunflower oil in its color and richness in polyunsaturated acids, and used in cosmetics.

Other uses: This plant is also suitable for making dried bouquets.

Reproducible seeds harvested exclusively in the Pot'à'Jo garden, a horticultural and permaculture market garden of 1500m². Everything is cultivated there with deep respect for nature and their inhabitants. I have been growing my own seeds from seed to seed for years.